John Leslie is sacked by ITV

John Leslie, the television presenter, was sacked yesterday from the ITV show This Morning after he failed to respond to allegations about his personal life.

Granada, which makes the show, had sent a letter by courier to Leslie, 37, on Monday demanding to hear his side of the story by today following a week of damaging reports in the tabloid press.

The network decided to terminate his contract - worth just under £400,000 a year - when he failed to reply.

In a statement, Granada, said: "We have given John Leslie every opportunity to give his response to the allegations made against him. It is no longer possible for him to present This Morning."

Last night, Leslie's manager said that his client had contacted police to offer any assistance he could in the light of allegations made against him. John Noel said he had gone to police "of his own initiative" but it was "inappropriate" to discuss the allegations.

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Mr Noel, who said he was "disappointed that discussions with Granada had not been more fruitful", added: "John Leslie is committed to dealing with this matter through the proper channels and not a trial by media."

Leslie, a former Blue Peter presenter, is the second high-profile performer to be sacked in as many days as a result of publicity about their private lives. Angus Deayton left the BBC satirical show Have I Got News For You? on Tuesday.